"I just love it when the kids read to me."

Justina Wahlsmith,  a first-grade student at New Holland-Middletown, reads a story to Romeo the rabbit on the last full day of school. Reading to Romeo is part of the Title I reading program and Romeo is all ears listening to Justina. Language arts teacher Diane Bicknell uses her pet rabbit to promote literacy among all students and make reading fun. This program was modeled after the Sit Stay Read program in the Chicago Public Schools and Craig Pierce's American Dog program. It was featured during the 2009 Illinois Reading Conference in Springfield.

Picture by Diane Bicknell  (Click on picture for larger image.)